Central Government Employees: Good news! Central employees can still avail all health benefits without CGHS card, know how
Central Government Employees: If you are a Central Government employee and CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) contributions are being deducted from your salary every month, you are eligible to receive all the benefits under this scheme—even if you haven’t yet applied for a CGHS card.
CGHS Card: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has clarified that no employee can be denied CGHS benefits simply because they haven’t submitted the application form. As long as CGHS deductions are being made from your salary, you are entitled to access all the facilities provided by the scheme.
In an office memorandum issued on 7 April 2025, the Ministry has said that CGHS cards must be issued to those employees from whose salary monthly contribution of CGHS is being deducted. This instruction has been issued especially for the employees of CPWD (Central Public Works Department). If an employee does not apply despite repeated information, then his case should be immediately sent to senior officials.
The ministry has also said that if CGHS money is being deducted from the salary, then the responsibility of not getting the card lies not with the employee but with the office. The administrative branch should start the process of making the card in collaboration with the accounts section. This means that even if the employee has not filled the form, but if money is being deducted from his salary, then he will be considered a member of the scheme.
How to get CGHS card made
Employees who are in service should fill the prescribed form and put their and family’s photos in it and submit it in their office. After this, the office sends it to the CGHS office, from where the card is made and given through the wellness center. As soon as the card is made, an SMS comes on the employee’s mobile. Apart from this, employees can also download the card from CGHS website cghs.gov.in and take a colour printout of it, laminate it and use it.
The government has also said that linking ABHA ID to CGHS is no longer mandatory, but it may be beneficial in the future. This decision ensures that no eligible government employee is deprived of the benefits of CGHS due to technical reasons only.
